Automatic closure



'May V24 1927' N. sTArHl-:S ET AL AUTOMATIC CLOSURE YFiled July 2. 1926Patented May Z4, l1927i?.

UNirED .STATES i g inzage PMENTg FoFFici-z.

NIcHoLAs as'rA'rHns AND GEORGE 1i. strnmnnsor NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC CLOSURE.

Application filed July 2, 1926.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inlautomatic closures forvcontainers in general and vparticularly forportable liquid containers, and more especially does it relate to.closures for the gasoline tanks .of automotive engines and automobiles.y Y

It is a well-known fact that the closures now used for automobilegasoline tanks are very unsatisfactory for the reason that, beingscrewed on the pipe-opening, they either work looseand become lostor arestolen. The loss of the gasoline tank closure results in greatinconvenience to motorists beca-use it is very difiicult to pick upanother one that will .tit the opening of that particular tank.

Therefore, our invention is designed to eliminate the possibility ofsuch closures being lost or stolen and has, among others, the followingVobjects in view:

To provide a closure which will beso securelyclamped or bolted adjacentthe mouth of the opening which it is intended to cover as to beinseparable therefrom; Y

To provide closure caps for stem openings which will -be hiiigedlyconnected to the stem;

To provide a closure cap which under all normal conditions, will be heldautomatically and firmly closed.; v

To provide closure'means for openings Vwhich will be inseparablyconnected to the container, automatic in operation, efficient. in use,of simple construct-ion, and easy to manufacture at a comparatively lowcost.-

Other objects and advantages of our in vention will be made clear andapparent as the description proceeds.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawings which form a part ofthis application, and in which: y

` Fig. 1 is a side view of a `stem opening carrying our improvedclosure, parts of same being broken away to show some of the con-`'integrally cast with the stem.

Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view of stein opening on which means forfastening our improved cap are integrally cast.

Fig. 4 is a ring collar adapted to haveV hinged thereunto our closurecap and then to be clamped to a stein opening.'

Serial No. 120,143.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of retaining the packing means on theclosure cap.

.Figa 6 is a vertical sectional View through the hinged parts of theAcap and vclamp collar, or through the closure cap and the lugs on thestem, as the case may be. This figure also shows the automaticnieansprovided for keeping the cap in a closed position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form of the automatic spring meansthat may be employed to urge the cap in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of theconstruction and voperation oftlie device, numeral 1 represents the stemopening projecting from the gasoline tank of an automobile,not shown,but it may be taken to represent any hollow stem open atthe top 2.Encircling'the stem 1 is a split collar 3 the open ends of which arebentY outwardly to form parallel ears 4. These projecting ears 4have'opposing openings 5 through bot-h of which a threaded bolt ispassed and by means of a nut operating on the bolt through the holes onthe ears of the collar, the same is drawn tightly and securely aroundthe stein 1.

Diametrically opposite the open ends 6 of the collar 3 and integrallycast with said `collar are upstanding lugs or ears 7. The inside facesof the lugs or ears 7 are perpendicular to the top surface of the collarand on the outside thereof. yThe lugs or ears 7 are provided withopposing holes for the reception of a hinge bolt or rivet 9.

Numeral l() indicates the closure cap which is provided with a dependingannular flange- 11, anotch-like outward projection 12 and a pair ofdownwardly projecting lugs 13. lThe lugs 13 are provided with holes 14to correspond with the holes 8 onthe lugs 7 of the collar 3. ATheclosure capr 10 is further provided on the inside thereof with a packingmeans 15 which is held in place either by such means as indicated bynumeral 16, Fig. l, or by `the method shown at 17, Fig. 5.k

It is important to note here that across the outerl and lower sides oflugs 7, and

across they outer andrupper sides of lugs 13 are webs 18 and 19,respectively. These webs are coi'npleineiitarily curved inside and out,and mated to coact in a manner and for purposes hereinafter described.

Numeral 2O indicates a hair-pin shapedy steel spring, the legs of whichhave been coiled in the manner shown. This spring is y adaptedtobe'placed between the lugs 7 in 'such' af manner as to have the loops21 register vvith holes 8, the ends22 resting against and, underpressure, conforming with the inside curvature of Web 18, While the topor looped end 23 of the said spring Will rest against, and underpressure, willA conform with the inside curvature of web 19 when thedevice is assembled andV in use. The position andy action of the springAWhile the invention is in use is clearly illustrated at Fig. 6.

While the for-m of spring herein illustrated is preferable, it: isobvious that' any other formv of similarly acting spring means may beused Without departure from: the spirit of. our invention.

Now, having described. the structure of the elements of our inventionwedesire to describe the manner of assembling and applying the same:

The spring 2O (or any other springr suit able for the purpose) is placedbetween the lugs 7 in the manner above described. Then the cap 10 isplaced over the collar 3 in sucha manner that the lugs 13 will fit overthe lugs 7. (This is possible because the lugs 13l are furtherapartfroin each other than lugs 7.). Holes 14, by the application ofsufficient pressure on cap 10,. Will come in registry with holes 8, thenbolt .9 is inserted and may be secured? in place either by bradding theendv of the bolt or lby a threaded? nut co-operating with threads on theend of the bolt. The device then is ready for use andi mayv be'cl'ampedaround the stem of theopening. for which: it is desired to-serve as aIclosure.

When it is desired to lift the cap either for the purpose of pouring outthe contents 0r for replenishing the container, the saine isaccomplishedV by lift/ing thecap With the hand" against the outwardprojecting notch 12. When thecap is thus lifted, theaveb 19 slidesoverthe outer surface of web 18', the spring is tensioned, and' when thecap is released it flaps sluit and is held shut tight bythe spring as'shown at Fig. 6; The packing member 15 forms ay seal between the cap andthe lips of the opening, soy that there is no danger of the liquidircontents of the tank leaking out no matter how much it may be splashed.

At Fig. 8 We have shown theI lugs 8 cast integral with the stein. rldhiseliminates-the need of the clamping collar 3 and at' the saine time theclamping means at the lugs 4.

The form of the device illustrated at Fig. 1 is adapted to be used ontanks of automobiles already in use, while the form illustrated' at Fig.3 can be made and fitted on new tanks Where our invention is desired tobe used.

At Fig. 5 We have illustrated a novelr Way of holding; the packing inplace'. Thisv consists of forming a constricted. groove oni theunderside of the cap and also forming the packing in the form of anendless annulus having on the top side thereof a ribor beadY of acontour corresponding to the contour of the groove. The packing beingAmade of rubber, or other pliable material can beV easily compressed intothe groove in which it is held by the force exerted against the Wallsofthe groove by the tendency of the compressed: material to expand.

It is thought that'the foregoing specif'ication. clearly sets forth themany advantages of4 our device, andv itv is apparent that We haveinvented a closure Which is novel, eiiicient and durable. and.. althoughWe have herein described and illustrated the pre'- :t'erredf embodimentof our invention., it is not the lessevident that changes in the detailsof its construction may bemade Without departing' from the scope of theinvention. It is, therefore, to be understood; that We do not intendi tolimit our-invention, to the specific details of construction hereinshown. and. described, but changes falling Within the scope of theclaims may be had in accordance with the spirit and idea. of theinvention.A

What ive claim is:

1.. An automatically closing cap for the stem openings of automobilegasoline tanks comprising a closure cap, said closure cap being linedwith packing material.; ay split band, the ends` of WhichV are bent toform outwardly projecting parallel ears gy downwardly projecting lugs onthe closure' cap and upwardly projecting lugs on the split band; saidlugs being perforated and a bolt passing through the portera-tions andpivotally connecting the band with the: closurecap; concave-convex Websacross the lugs on the cap andi band forming a housing, a resilientspring in the housing, said' spring being tensioned against the Websvfor the purpose of keeping the closure cap in a downward position.

2. In a` device of the characterdescribed a container having an.opening;` ai closure cap for said opening, a pair of perforated lugsnea-r the opening andy aepair of perforated lugs on the closure cap,eoneayo-convex Webs connecting the top sides-- ofthe respective lugs attheir lower and upper portions re-Y spectively, thereby foi-minghousings; the housing formed by the lugs and Web on the closure capbeing larger than the similar housing formed by similar means on thecontainer g. the closure cap placed over the opening with its lugsembracing the lugs: on the container and the aforesaid holes coming inalineinent, a. bolt hingedly connecting the closure cap to thecontainer, spring means housedl by the Webs and' tensionedthereagainst,A the inner surface of theV Web on the closure cap lappingover the outer surface of the webv on. the container and. coactingtherewith in lapped relation during llO the opening and closingoperations of the closure cap.

3. In combination with a receptacle having an opening, a pair ofupwardly projectg ing parallel lugs adjacent the opening, op-

posing holes near the upper ends of the lugs, n

a web having an outer convex surface and an inner concave .surfacebridging the lower portions of the lugs; a closure cap having downwardlyprojecting parallel lugs, said lugs having opposing holes near theirrespective lower ends, a web bridging the upper portion of the lugs,said web having its outer surface eonveXly curved and its inner surface-concavely curved; the lugs on the closure cap being further apart thanthe lugs on the container; the said closure cap fitting over the openingot' the container, the lugs on the closure cap enveloping the lugs onthe container, the holes on the several lugs being in alineinent, aboltpassing through the holes, and "a resilient spring around the bolthoused by both ot' said webs.

4. In combination with a split band having its ends bent outwardly andperforated thereby adapting the saine to be .securely fastened aroundthe stem opening of an automobile gasoline tank; a closurecap pivotallyconnected to the band, resilient means employed at the points ofconnection for closing and keeping closed the cap over the opening,housing for the spring, said housing being partly on the cap and partlyon the band, the two parts being in over-lapping relation and coactingwhen the cap is being opened or closed. j

5. A closure cap .for the openings of au toinobile gasoline tankscomprising a disk adapted to lit over the opening, a. projectingthumb-lagon the periphery of the disk, a skirt depending from the disk,a pair of lugs on the skirt the ends of said lugs being perforated andprojecting below the lower edge ot the skirt; in combination with asplit band having the ends thereof bent outwardly and perforated, a pairof lugs on the band, the ends of said lugs being perforated vandprojecting upwardly and beyond the upper edge of the band, meanshingedly connecting the lugs of the cap and band, a

looped hair-pin spring surrounding the connecting ineans, complementarywebs on the respective lugs vfor housing the connecting ine-ans and thespring and for the further purpose oli' providing constricting walls forkeeping the spring tensioned whereby the cap is kept closed under allnormal conditions. v

In testimony whereof we have subscribed our naines hereto.

NICHOLAS A. STATI-IES. GEORGE A. STATHES.

